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Archiver > Mariners > 2002-06 > 1023092913


From: "Ted Finch" <>
Subject: Re: [Mar] SS IONIC - Official number 115337
Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 09:35:29 +0100
References: <200205300701.g4U71Ju23661@lists2.rootsweb.com> <3CFA7C5F.581E@xtra.co.nz>


Hi Richard,

There is a photo of your IONIC at http://www.shawsavillships.co.uk/ionic.htm

The masts of the first IONIC were certainly used for sails, for either
engine breakdowns, propeller shaft fractures (common in those days) or
simply to conserve coal. These were gradually removed around the turn of the
century or earlier. However, the second IONIC never carried sails. The masts
were for derricks, wireless ariels, flags etc.

IONIC 1902.
12,232 gross tons, 7,826 net tons, length 500ft x beam 63.3ft, one funnel,
four masts, twin screw, speed 14 knots, accommodation for 121-1st, 117-2nd
and 450-3rd class passengers. Refrigerated cargo space.
Built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, she was launched on 22nd May 1902 for the
Shaw Savill & Albion - White Star Line joint service to New Zealand. Her
maiden voyage to Wellington started 16th Jan.1903 and she stayed on this
service until 1914 when she became a New Zealand Exprditionary Force
troopship. 1917 used under the liner requisition scheme. 31st Jan.1919
resumed commercial service via the Panama Canal. 1927 rescued the crew of
the French Grand Banks fishing boat DAISY. 1929 converted to Cabin and Third
Class accommodation. 1934 with the merger of White Star Line and Cunard, the
ship was bought outright by Shaw Savill & Albion Line. 1936 owned by the
group's Norfolk & North American S.S.Co, she started her final sailing on
9th Sep.1936 and was scrapped at Osaka the following year. The ship's bell
is in Auckland's War Memorial Museum. [Merchant Fleets, vol.10 by Duncan
Haws]

regards
Ted

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Herbert <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 9:13 PM
Subject: [Mar] SS IONIC - Official number 115337


> Hi Ted
>
> interested in your note on the Ionic - below. I have an interest in the
next
> SS Ionic which continued with the Shaw Savill Line into the 20C and
brought my
> grandfather to NZ in 1913. I have a photo of this vessel which also seams
to
> be a four masted steamer - but the masts surely were not used for sails?
look
> more like they were just used for flags and to support block and tackle
lifting
> gear. Described on a passenger list as 7825 registered tons, but on a
Shaw
> Savill advertisement of the time as 12,232 tons.
>
> Would appreciate any further information you might have on this Ionic
please
>
> regards
> Richard Herbert
> Wellington, NZ
>
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Subject: Re: [Mar] the SS IONIC
> > Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 14:03:38 +0100
> > From: "Ted Finch" <>
> > To:
> >
> > Hello Pam,
> >
> > I can't help with photos, but be careful if buying one that you get the
> > correct ship as there were several ships with this name. The one you
want is
> > easily identified as it was a four masted steamship.
> >
> > IONIC / SOPHOCLES 1883
> > 4,748 gross tons, length 439.9ft x beam 44.2ft, one funnel, four masts,
> > single screw, speed 13 knots, accommodation for 70-1st and 900-3rd class
> > passengers.
> > Built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast for Shaw Savill & Albion Line in
Dec.1883,
> > she entered service initially under charter to the New Zealand Shipping
Co.
> > and started her maiden voyage London to Wellington on 26th Apr.1883. On
3rd
> > Dec.1884 she started her first voyage from London to Cape Town, Port
> > Chalmers, Lyttelton and Wellington on the joint White Star / Shaw Savill
> > Line service. Initially square rigged on the first three masts and later
on
> > the foremast only, this also was later removed. In Feb.1893 shortly
after
> > leaving Cape Town, the propellor shaft snapped and she was towed back by
the
> > HAWARDEN CASTLE. In 1894 she was returned to her builders, re-engined,
> > refrigeration fitted and accommodation modernised. 1899 became a Boer
War
> > transport, made her final sailing for Shaw Savill & Albion on 21st
Dec.1899
> > and chartered to the Spanish Government to repatriate troops from the
> > Philippines in 1900 after their war with the USA. She was then sold to
the
> > Aberdeen Line, renamed SOPHOCLES and her final sailing rigging removed.
Used
> > on their London - Cape Town - Australia service until 1906, sold for
> > scrapping the following year and broken up at Morecombe.[North Star to
> > Southern Cross by John M. Maber] [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws,
vols.10 &
> > 17]
> >
> > regards
> > Ted
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Les and Pam Reade <>
> > To: <>
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2002 1:04 PM
> > Subject: [Mar] the SS IONIC
> >
> > > Has SKS a photograph of the ss Ionic a passenger ship that came to New
> > Zealand in 1885? I would love to include this in our family tree. My
> > husbands great grandfather came on the Ionic from England. I believe it
was
> > a Shaw Savill liner and later sold and renamed, does any one know what
the
> > ship was renamed and what company owned it, was it a sailing ship or
steam.
> > > Pam
> > > NZ
>
>
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